Anahat Singh returns to the scene to reach the first semi-final of PSA Gold

Anahat Singh came from behind to beat Egypt’s Salma Hanya to book her place in the semi-finals of the Silicon Valley Open, reaching the last four of the PSA Gold tournament for the first time. The 18-year-old recovered from 2-1 down to win 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5 in a 42-minute match.

The world number 15 had a tough start against Hany, ranked 14th in the world and losing twice in the match. But Anahat turned things around in the fourth game, dropping just two points before closing out the decider with another convincing performance. After the match, she admitted that she didn’t start well, but was determined to make Hany work for the win.

“I didn’t start well. The first match was 11-4, which was a pretty bad start. But I wanted to find a way to get back into the match and fight. Whether it was a win or a loss, I didn’t want to let it go too easily,” Anahat said.

“In the second game, I gave it my all and tried to make it one. We took turns winning games, so it was quite a rollercoaster. I’m happy I did it,” she added. Courtesy: PTI

A NEW MILESTONE FOR INDIAN SQUASH

The win takes Anahat into her first PSA Gold semi-final, another important step in her progression on the senior circuit. She was close at the London Squash Classic, reaching the quarterfinals. This made her the first Indian since Joshna Chinappa in 2021 to reach the last eight at Gold level. This time, Anahat is a bit better.

Her run in Silicon Valley has also shown that she can handle different kinds of challenges. Against Hana, she had to fight her way back into the match after losing two of the first three games. The way she took control in the last two games was in stark contrast to her shaky start.

ANAHAT’S BIG BREAK CONTINUES

Anahat had already made headlines in the previous round when he defeated Egypt’s eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini. She won 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in just 30 minutes for one of the biggest victories of her senior career. After a five-match comeback against Hany, her run in California became even more impressive.

She now faces Malaysia’s world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam for a place in the final. The two met in the women’s singles final at the 2026 Asian Games, where Sivasangari won gold and Anahat settled for silver. The Indian will have another chance to test herself against the Malaysian, advancing to the finals of the Silicon Valley Open is at stake.

Anahat has already made history this year by becoming the first Indian to win the girls’ singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships and will be looking to add another milestone to that growing list.

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